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Monday, January 9, 2012

Serials automation

Main software components for an automated system are:

Acquisitions

Serials control

Cataloguing

OPAC

Circulation

Cataloguing and OPACs go hand in hand. Either or can’t be used successfully without the other.

Changeable nature and continuous publication of serials added to complexity of designing software for automated serials control. • Issue numbering, frequency of publication. Take into account special and unexpected issues

Automation vendors tended to develop modules for more predictable library functions leaving serials control to later. Often libraries postponed automation of serials until other tasks automated.

• 1970’s/80’s cataloguing, circulation, monographic acquisition, OPAC

• 1990’s turn for serials automation

Advantages of serials automation

Collections development
o Collection analysis
o Improved budget control
* Provides better relevant information
o Combine various paper files into one database
o Improvement in efficiency of processing
* Not handling item as many times on paper
o Improved quality control
* Cardex can be marred by human error
o Public service staff and users may access serials status information directly

Serials module: core requirements

What are we concerned that it can do?

Generate subscription/cancellation orders

Offer online access to serials vendors
o interaction

Alert staff to subscriptions needing renewal

Display record of issues received

Predict date of arrival of forthcoming issues
o Variations, build grace period before receiving a report

Online version of paper journal
o Content may not be complete or exactly the same

Journal in electronic format only

What is an aggregator?

A bibliographic service that provides online access to the fulltext of periodicals in digital format, published by different publishers, electronically from aggregator services. Currently, the top three journal aggregators in the United States are EBSCO, the Gale Group, and ProQuest.

Access but not ownership
o Elect not to subscribe but provide access on an article by article fee
* Block of searches brought
o Publishers establish an article by article fee
o May go hand in hand with table of contents alerting service